1:29 AM,
Mar. 12, 2014

Sen. Scott Beason (R-Gardendale) listens to debate in the senate chamber at the Alabama State House on Feb. 26.

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A public hearing over legislation that would allow local opt-outs from state Common Core standards Tuesday morning quickly turned into a debate over the merits of the Alabama versions of the standards.

Opponents of Common Core strongly objected to what they described variously as "socialistic" and anti-American textbooks and a loss of local control under the standards. Supporters were equally strong in objecting to opt-out options, which they said would undermine education in the state and force Alabama schools to go back to earlier, inferior standards.